Dakota P. Allerston is a resident of North Bay and a political science student at the University of Windsor.
-----
I believe the municipal election marks a turning point in North Bay.
On Monday, October 22nd, we have an opportunity to change the direction of our city. For too long, our municipality has been dominated by well-connected elites who have often forgotten about the average citizen. North Bay has tremendous potential, but we aren’t leveraging our economic, natural, or cultural assets. As the election approaches, I encourage voters to elect candidates who are transparent, collaborative, and optimistic.
To begin, transparency is an integral part of being a city councillor. Our citizens deserve to know what’s happening and what councillors are doing to make their lives better. I advise voters to support candidates that will facilitate town halls, roundtables, and summits. A successful community is one that engages everyone. These interactive events should be held once per quarter and should actively seek input from students, entrepreneurs, and seniors. As a result, the city will be better equipped to handle youth retention, increase economic development, and improve our “quality of place.”
In addition to transparency, city councillors should be collaborative. As you can see from the campaign, too many candidates are already engaging in partisanship. The beauty of municipal politics is that candidates can be independent without being forced to align with party interests. We need councillors that will work with everyone and won’t waste time suing each other. I urge voters to consider candidates that will put the public good ahead of any association, ideology, or partisanship.
Lastly, our city council needs to be optimistic. The Baylor Report, which was a comprehensive study of the city conducted by world-class MBA candidates, told us that only 15% of the population is optimistic about North Bay’s future. This needs to change. Our city councillors should be champions of our community and need to promote it on a daily basis. I ask voters to elect candidates that will re-ignite North Bay’s spirit. Consequently, people will be more inclined to live, work, and play here.
It’s important for city councillors to possess all three of these characteristics. This is an unprecedented election, and the future of our city is at stake.
With the election fast approaching, I encourage voters to support candidates that will move North Bay forward. I trust that they will make the right decision.
Dakota P. Allerston
